jury still out in tennessee

Residents share landfill worries

Lawyer: Facility safe, necessary

By SKYLER SWISHER/ [email protected]

MT. PLEASANT ? Residents voiced concerns Wednesday night that a proposed landfill near the airport would destroy the environment and lower property values in this town of about 4,500 people.

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has tentatively approved a landfill that would be used by Mt. Pleasant-based Tennessee Aluminum Processors Inc. and Smelter Service Corp. to dispose of salt cake, a byproduct of recycling aluminum.

On Wednesday, residents packed the Mt. Pleasant Community Center for a hearing to gather public comment before TDEC issues its final decision.
Sandrell Heating & Air

In addition to countless lifelong Maury County residents, speakers varied from a Mt. Pleasant city commissioner to a 16-year-old girl to an out-of-state tourist visiting Middle Tennessee. Every person commenting with one exception spoke in opposition to the landfill.

Carl Brooks, whose family has resided in Mt. Pleasant for generations, said his children are considering leaving the community because of the landfill and the amount of pollution in the area.

?If our children don?t return to this town, then this town will sooner or later dry up,? he said.

Wally Beasley, chairman of the Maury County Republican Party, spoke on behalf of state Sen. Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, saying the senator opposes a landfill inside the city limits of Mt. Pleasant.


Others said they worried about sinkholes that a hydrologist hired by landfill opponents found on the property where the landfill would be located. They said they fear the landfill will leak or the salt cake will be exposed to water, creating ground and air pollution.

Although salt cake is not classified as hazardous waste by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the substance emits heat and ammonia when it reacts with water. In the European Union and Canada, the waste must be recycled instead of dumped, but the United States has not adopted similar regulations.

As a result, company officials say it is not cost effective to recycle salt cake domestically.

Clark Spoden, an attorney for the companies, said the landfill will use the most up-to-date technology to guard against leaks and would only be used to dispose of salt cake.

He said the companies, which employ 225 people, need a nearby disposal site to be competitive.

Crystal Lovett, who spoke in favor of the landfill, said many of the opponents use the aluminum foil and cans made possible by industries such as the ones in Mt. Pleasant.

?If the factory were to up and leave, how many cents and dollars would that hurt Mt. Pleasant?? she asked.

Now that the hearing has been held, TDEC will review the comments before making a final decision on whether to grant a permit for the landfill.

Story created Dec 09, 2010 - 16:13:35 EST.